Canadian presenters await funding announcements

>>By Kate Stashko

Several dance presenters across Canada continue to wait for Arts Presentation Canada funding annoucements from the Department of Canadian Heritage. Presenters including Live Art Dance Productions in Halifax, Tangente in Montréal, DanceWorks in Toronto, Brian Webb Dance Company in Edmonton and New Works in Vancouver, applied for funding in September 2008 and still await news on the results of their applications. Mimi Beck, dance curator of DanceWorks, notes that part of the issue lies in the differences between the government’s fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) and the typical presenter’s season (September to June). As such, presenters applied in April 2008 for funding of their 2009/10 seasons, expecting to find out in the spring of 2009. Compounding this discrepancy in time periods is the fact that there is no specific date given by the Department of Canadian Heritage as to when presenters can expect the funding announcement; Beck has noted dates ranging from March to June in previous years. The delay in funding announcements has slowed planning and booking of tours and performances and has some presenters considering alternative arrangements for their 2009/10 seasons.